What a fascinating entity Monolithe have become. This recently emerged EP has perhaps brought them closer to the mystery that their name and artwork has always hinted at, that of the glorious existential imaginings of 2001: A Space Odyssey, than their (admittedly excellent) funeral doom incarnations of Monolithe I and Monolithe II. In fact it's safe to say they've exited the realms of doom altogether and transferred dimensions to a plateau of relatively structure-free mechanised, if not industrialised, landscaping.

Those of you familiar with 2001: A Space Odyssey know what the Monolith stands for, an unearthly messenger that saved the man-ape from extinction and taught him how to hunt and survive in a barren desiccated land. Its appearance was the fictional point in history when we, humans, truly exited from the most primeval and undeveloped version of us. Monolithe assume the role of this beacon of enlightenment, taking us in a journey far beyond in space towards cosmic realms no man ever dreamed of reaching …

This is every fleeting dream you have ever had about alien worlds, every alternate dimension where 2 + 2 = 3 and where colours exist that cannot be comprehended within the limited scope of the human brain. This is something you haven't heard before.

I hear nothing.... I REALLY need to check this band out (yeah, haven't heard anything yet, I suck...)

Get on it biznatch. I might have been wrong with the Godflesh analogy. It was on quite quiet so I couldn't hear it as well as I'd have liked but the drums and the repetitive, overlapping riffs bludgeoned like a Godflesh release to me.

I hear nothing.... I REALLY need to check this band out (yeah, haven't heard anything yet, I suck...)

Get on it biznatch. I might have been wrong with the Godflesh analogy. It was on quite quiet so I couldn't hear it as well as I'd have liked but the drums and the repetitive, overlapping riffs bludgeoned like a Godflesh release to me.

Well, the overall discography seems intriguing to me. Glad that some nice guy put the entire debut on youtube. Gonnan check them out today. (and I'm serious serious.... not Troy-serious).
Also judging by the cover, bandname and overall theme of the lyrics of their releases... This guys must really love 2001 I like that.

Well, the overall discography seems intriguing to me. Glad that some nice guy put the entire debut on youtube. Gonnan check them out today. (and I'm serious serious.... not Troy-serious).
Also judging by the cover, bandname and overall theme of the lyrics of their releases... This guys must really love 2001 I like that.

Yep, the whole 2001 makes me like them before I've heard whatever release they have out. There should be more 2001 themed bands, as long as their music is as mysterious as the film of course.

One of countless great albums I get familiar with thanks to Joe.
The first track which could be considered a long one finishes without boring me for a second. Despite the fact that it is pretty easy to go through and digestible, I'm having hard time throwing a tag on it. It has some vague industrial guitar work in the background and those machine drum beats which could be considered the main aspect of music. Drone? industrial? experimental?

Written by mz on 18.07.2013 at 22:30I'm having hard time throwing a tag on it. It has some vague industrial guitar work in the background and those machine drum beats which could be considered the main aspect of music. Drone? industrial? experimental?

Heh, if you read the review and then some comments you'll see some of us come up with the stupid (but at the same time also fitting) name of "frone" (as in funeral drone).

My first Monolithe album and my lord, what a brillant record. A massive, galactic scale effort to pay homage to the twisted brillance of Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Clarke.

Unfortunately nothing else the band have done is anything like this. Just very competent (if a little boring these days) funeral doom. They really need to do something like this again.

I have yet to try out any of their other releases but it really is a shame if they've left this line of experimental/industrial doom! I even heard some progressive elements in track 2. Haven't come across many bands with that particular blend, if any, and the Space Odyssey theme is just the floating cherry on top of the floating cake in zero gravity, which honestly is reason enough to check out everything they've ever put out! :-P